Jackie Robinson West parents sue league, ESPN, whistleblower

February 12, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) The parents of 13 members of the Chicago Little League team stripped last year of its 2014 U.S. championship are suing team officials, Little League Baseball, an ESPN sportscaster and the man who exposed the team's residency violations.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court claims Jackie Robinson West officials and the Little League ''concealed the ineligibility of team members in order to reap the benefits of notoriety and media attention.''

The lawsuit alleges Little League officials should have figured out the team's violations sooner. The parents say ESPN's Stephen Smith defamed them by accusing them of ''perpetrating a fraud.''

Spokesmen for ESPN and the Little League said their organizations had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.